`Ihadtocomeandseethechickens!’shesaid，panting，glancingshylyatthekeeper，almostunawareofhim。`Arethereanymore？’
`Thurty-sixsofar!’hesaid。`Notbad!’
Hetootookacuriouspleasureinwatchingtheyoungthingscomeout。
Conniecrouchedinfrontofthelastcoop。Thethreechickshadrunin。Butstilltheircheekyheadscamepokingsharplythroughtheyellowfeathers，thenwithdrawing，thenonlyonebeadylittleheadeyeingforthfromthevastmother-body。
`I’dlovetotouchthem，’shesaid，puttingherlingersgingerlythroughthebarsofthecoop。Butthemother-henpeckedatherhandfiercely，andConniedrewbackstartledandfrightened。